[11] Daily evaluates the steps Turkey took in 2009 in its foreign
policy with its Eastern neighbors

[01] Ozugergin expressed the opinion that there is no difference
between Eroglu and Talat

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (31.12.09), in its front page
and under the title There is no difference between Eroglu and Talat,
reports on statements made yesterday by Burak Ozugergin, Turkish
Foreign Ministry spokesman and writes in its subtitle that he made
remarkable statements as regards the ongoing negotiation process on the
Cyprus problem and the presidential elections of April.

Speaking in a press conference yesterday, Mr Ozugergin referred to the
Cyprus problem, Turkey-EU relations and the presidential elections. Mr
Ozugergin stated, inter alia, that the Turkish Cypriot leader has
exhibited a constructive and sincere stance from the launching of the
negotiations until today and said the following: It is our duty to say
the same thing for the prime minister of the TRNC, Dervis Eroglu. Mr
Ozugergin reminded Eroglus statements that he supports the negotiations
and expressed his opinion on which parameters he finds appropriate and
that it is out of the question for this to create difficulties.

Mr Ozugergin stressed also the need for Turkey to overcome the
political difficulties it confronts in its EU bid and said that what
they expect from the EU is to keep its commitments as regards Turkey.

Replying to a question regarding the process in the Cyprus problem, Mr
Ozugergin explained the approach of the Greek Cypriot Administration in
the framework of Archimedes principle. According to Mr Ozugergin, Greek
Cypriots stuck on Archimedes principle, he suspects that [the Greek
Cypriots] see Turkeys EU negotiation process as a ground and the EU as
leverage. Therefore, Greek Cypriots should get rid of the influence of
the Archimedes principle the soonest, he added.

He then stated that it is important for Turkey to make progress in its
EU course and that this will be good for Cyprus as well. The spokesman
of the Turkish Foreign Ministry noted also that the proposal for a
four-party meeting as regards the Cyprus process is on the table and
that Greek Cypriots still do not see this positively.

Mr Ozugergin referred also to the negotiation process in Cyprus and
said the following: Our goal is not an open-ended timetable. A serious
effort will be made during the next forthcoming months and a solution
to be reached to the problem, finally.

President Mehmet Ali Talat has said that the decisions taken by the
Turkish National Security Council on the Cyprus issue have shown the
determination of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to
bring a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The President said that the Council reiterated its support to the
ongoing negotiation process being carried out within the framework of
the UN Secretary-Generals Good Offices Mission in Cyprus.

President Talat evaluated the statement issued after the latest meeting
of the National Security Council to BRT and TAK news agency.

Stressing that the latest decisions taken by the Council has shown the
commitment of Turkey and the TRNC to the solution process in Cyprus,
President Talat pointed out that the Council has once again voiced its
support to the ongoing negotiations being carried out within the
framework of the good offices mission of the United Nations.

Noting that the Council has called on the concerned sides to refrain
from taking steps which could harm the process, Mr Talat said it
pointed out that Turkey and the TRNC have the necessary political will
for the solution of the Cyprus problem.We are showing political will
and working for a solution. We are also refraining from taking steps
that can harm the negotiation process, he added.

On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (30.12.09) broadcast the
following: Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu has said that decisions taken
by the Turkish National Security Council is a reflection of Turkeys
support to the Cyprus Turkish people on the Cyprus Issue.

He said that no Turkish official has ever issued any statement in
contradiction to the decisions of its National Security Council.

Speaking to reporters before todays Council of Ministers meeting, the
Prime Minister reminded that the Turkish National Security Council has
repeatedly stated there are two separate peoples, two separate
democracies, two separate religions and languages in Cyprus.

He pointed out that the Turkish National Security Council clearly and
openly supports a solution to the Cyprus Problem on the basis of two
politically equal states. No Turkish official to this day has made any
statements in contradiction to these decisions, he added.

Reminding that he had met with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu as well as other top state officials during his recent
visit to Ankara, the Prime Minister said that he had conveyed his
governments views and concerns on the Cyprus Problem during these
contacts.

Responding to questions, Eroglu also pointed out that his government
was working for a sustainable solution to the Cyprus Problem.

[03] Ozgurgun called on President Christofias to behave as a statesman

Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (31.12.09), in its front page
under the title Ozgurgun: MGK warned Christofias, reports that the
so-called minister of foreign affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun evaluated the
latest statement of Turkeys National Security Council (MGK) after the
meeting of the council of ministers. Mr Ozgurgun said that there is
nothing surprising and added: The decision of MGK is positive and a
proper decision.

Mr Ozgurgun also said: Here MGK makes a warning and added that he also
replies to the Christofias statements as minister. He noted that the
intention of Mr Christofias is either the negotiation process to be
stopped or the Turkish Cypriots to walk away from the negotiation
table, but the Turkish Cypriot is on the table with good intention and
the Turkish side is not the side which walks away from the table.

Noting that the aim of the Turkish Cypriot side is the continuation of
the negotiations but they will not reach anywhere with such kind of
statements, Mr Ozgurgun, calling on Mr Christofias, asked him to behave
as a right minded and statesman.

(DPs)

[04] Eroglu said that the negotiations will continue after the
elections

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (31.12.09), in its front page
under the title We enter 2010 without a problem, reports that the
so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu in statements before the meeting
of the council of ministers, commented on the latest situation of the
negotiations.

Mr Eroglu said that for years now they struggle for a viable agreement
in Cyprus. He said that the agreement can be achieved only with the
continuation of the negotiations and after the elections they will be
in search of this. Noting that the Cyprus talks will stop on the eve of
the presidential election, Mr Eroglu said since there will be no
agreement before, the negotiations will continue after the elections.

(DPs)

[05] Eroglu said that he will decide with his party for the candidacy
of the presidential elections

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (31.12.09), in its front page
under the banner headline Eroglu a presidential candidate in the new
year, reports that Mr Eroglu, at Merit hotel in the occupied part of
Lefkosia where he hosted a reception for the journalists last night,
said that regarding the issue of the candidacy for the presidential
elections he will decide with the competent organs of his party.

Noting that the continuation of the negotiations in order to reach an
agreement is a condition, Mr Eroglu said that whoever will be a
president will continue the negotiations.

(DPs)

[06] Turkeys financial credit support to the illegal regime extended
for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012

Illegal Bayrak television (30.12.09) broadcast the following:

The Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol signed between Turkey
and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has been approved.

The Protocol covers 2010, 2011 and 2012 and aims to allow the TRNC to
make financial reforms as well as to gradually lower the budget
deficit.

Up to 2,5 million Turkish Liras worth credits will be provided to the
TRNC for new projects, except those on water and electricity supply.

The approval of the Protocol was published in Turkeys Official
Gazette.Within the framework of the Protocol, the Turkish government
will provide credit assistance to the TRNC for infrastructural
investments and for the development of the real sector, while the TRNC
will be making the necessary reforms.Ankara will provide credits to the
TRNC for investments in various fields, especially in the tourism
sector. It will also supply technical assistance to the Republic in the
fields needed.

[07] Belgium to pay high attention to Turkeys EU candidacy during the
second half of 2010 when Brussels will assume the EU presidency

Ankara Anatolia news agency (30.12.09) reported the following from
Ankara:

Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme said Wednesday the European Union
(EU) negotiations process was an open ended one.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, Leterme said that Turkey's EU negotiations process must
be simplified and encouraged.

Pointing out that his first trip overseas after having become the Prime
Minister of Belgium was to Turkey, Leterme said that this was not a
coincidence as Turkey was a crucial country.

There is an important Turkish community in Belgium. We are pleased to
witness that this community has integrated with the Belgian society,
Leterme stressed.Belgium will assume the EU presidency in the second
half of 2010 and we have discussed this topic. Belgium pays high
attention to Turkey's candidacy and hopes that the negotiations are
concluded successfully. We will focus on Turkey's negotiations in the
second half of 2010, Leterme noted.

We have exchanged opinions with Prime Minister Erdogan on security
issues. We believe that Turkey can play an important regional role,
Leterme said.Asked by a journalist about what their reaction would be
if a terrorist killed a prominent Belgian businessman and escaped from
law to Turkey and if the trial of the terrorist took a very long time,
Leterme said that a prime minister could not comment on the decision of
legal authorities.

The legal process (in Belgium) continues for the individual you have
implied with connections to terror. I want to stress the importance of
talks between the ministers. We expect to find solutions to certain
problems in meetings of the ministers in the first half of 2010,
Leterme said.

Reminded by a journalist about his earlier comments on offering Turkey
a privileged partnership rather than full EU membership, Leterme said
that the Belgian government believed the negotiations process should be
given a chance.As the Belgian government, we support Turkey's EU full
membership, Leterme added.

Ankara Anatolia news agency (30.12.09) reported the following from
Ankara:

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the
year 2009 had a special place in the last seven years since his Justice
and Development (AK) Party came to power.

In his televised address to nation, Erdogan said that Turkey had a long
way to solve its chronic problems and to become a more peaceful and
prosperous country over the past seven years during AK Party
government.

Erdogan said, in 2009, when giant economies of the world were rocked by
the global financial crisis, it is obvious that Turkey achieved this
way on a firm ground established in the last seven years.

Of course we had some troubles during the crisis, Erdogan said.
Nevertheless, Turkish economy has not suffered disastrous pictures that
several giant economies faced.

Erdogan said, however, Turkish government had revised economic targets,
yet Turkey had not seen irreparable economic devastation in this
period.

Prime Minister Erdogan also expressed his expectations from the coming
year.

I see the year 2010 as a year in which Turkish people will completely
weather the economic crisis, be free from impacts of it and have a
rising vigor for growth, he said.

Erdogan recalled that international organizations also made such
estimations supportive of government projections for the next year.

According to OECD projections, Turkey will be the second fastest
growing country, after South Korea, among 30 countries in 2010. In
2011, Turkey is expected to be the fastest growing country, he said. I
believe that Turkey, with its dynamism, will leave its mark in the
world next year and it will also have its name rather frequently
mentioned.

Reminding that Turkey achieved an average 5.8 percent growth between
2002 and 2008, Erdogan said that Turkish economy, which was on the
brink of a disaster in 2002, has become the 17th largest economy in the
world from 26th place.Erdogan said major economic indicators proved all
these progress.

Erdogan said a realist policy must be pursued to further improve
Turkey's economy with an eye for a sustainable growth rate.

Erdogan said his government had achieved to reduce inflation rate down
to single-digit values, adding that inflation for November 2009 was 5.5
percent which he underlined was lower than anticipated.

However, there is a certain level of increase in the unemployment rate
due to a global economic crisis as it raised to 13.4 percent in
September 2009 from 11 percent in 2008. But it is pleasing to see that
upward move has stopped over the last couple of months and even there
is a slight recovery in employment figures, Erdogan said.

Erdogan also estimated that Turkey's exports would gradually rise as a
global economic recovery was expected to revive foreign demand.

Turkish Prime Minister has called the European Union to show sincerity
over Turkey's accession to the Union.

Erdogan has said Turkey had been remaining sincere and resolute over
its bid for European Union membership despite what he described as
unfair treatment which we have often seen in Turkey's relations with
the Union.

We have showed our commitment and sincerity by opening the twelfth
policy chapter on environment in the EU negotiations. And now we are
expecting the same sincerity from EU members, Erdogan told a televised
address to the nation on Wednesday.

Erdogan said Turkey's foreign policy was not one-dimensional, adding
that his country sought to improve relations with all countries in the
world.

Our prestige and influence in the world are continuing to grow with
each passing day and our constructive policies to find solutions to
global issues are receiving greater appreciation, he said.

Erdogan also said he hoped that growing ties between Turkey and Syria
would make a good model for the region which he said had been shaken by
conflicts.

[09] Ahmet Turks granddaughter sentenced to nearly 10 years for
attending protests at a university

Hurriyet Daily News.com (30.12.09) reported the following from
Diyabakir:

A local court has sentenced the granddaughter of Ahmet Turk, who was
expelled from Parliament recently after his pro-Kurdish party was
closed, to nearly 10 years in jail for attending protests at a
university in Diyarbakir, Anatolia news agency reported on Wednesday.

Ruken Turk, a first-year mathematics student in the southeastern
province did not attend the trial at a local court in Diyarbakir.
Rehsan Bataray, lawyer of Turk, demanded the court to acquit Turk.

The court, however, decided to sentence Turk to nine years and seven
months in jail on charges of committing a crime on behalf of a terror
organization without being a member of it, preventing education within
the scope of organized terror activities, and making propaganda for a
terror organization.

In the previous trial, Ruken Turk denied the allegations. I was in
sorrow due to losing my close friend Mahsum Karaoglan, who died during
the clashes in the Birecik district of Sanliurfa on April 4. I did not
prevent the right to receive an education and I did not make propaganda
for any [terror] organization, she said.

Turk was taken into custody as she attended a demonstration at the
Dicle University protesting the killing of Mahsum Karaoglan. Karaoglan
and Mustafa Dag were killed during police clashes on April 4 when a
group of 500 people attempted to go to Omerli village in Sanliurfa, the
birthplace of Abdullah Ocalan who is the jailed leader of the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. The march was intended to celebrate
the Öcalans 60th birthday. As the police did not allow the crowd to
enter the village, clashes arose causing the death Karaoglan and Dag as
police opened fire on the crowd.

Under the title: Man of the year Turkey's foreign policy transformed as
theoretician Ahmet Davutoglu takes the helm Turkish daily Todays Zaman
newspaper (31.12.09) publishes the following commentary:

The editors of Today's Zaman have selected Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu as this paper's man of the year for 2009, recognizing the
central role he has played in perhaps the biggest transformation that
Turkey's foreign policy has undergone since its foundation.

The unassuming professor - appointed as foreign minister on May 1 after
serving for six years as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief
foreign policy adviser -- is rightly credited with re-establishing
Turkey's role as a pivotal country in its region while expanding
cooperation with the US to a more advanced level of model partnership
and keeping relations with Europe on track despite growing opposition
to Turkey in European countries. Widely recognized as the man behind
Turkey's new proactive stance since 2003, Davutoglu quit his
behind-the-scenes role in 2009 and became the active chief of Turkey's
dynamic foreign policy. And over time, he proved the skeptics who
feared that the great theoretician could fail to adjust to the
fast-changing reality of global politics very wrong.

Davutoglu, in fact, proved that he is not only an intellectual designer
but also a successful doer. During the half-year that he has been in
charge of the Foreign Ministry, Turkey signed agreements with Syria and
Iraq to build strategic cooperation, took a landmark step to normalize
relations with Armenia after decades of hostility and moved forward,
albeit slowly, in accession negotiations with the European Union.

Davutoglu owes his title not only to his performance as foreign
minister but also to the great deal of controversy surrounding his name
in Turkey as well as in several other corners of the world. His desire
to reinstate Turkeys influence in a vast area covering the Balkans, the
Caucasus and the Middle East has won him a reputation as neo-Ottoman, a
term Davutoglu emphatically rejects, and led to criticism that he wants
to pull Turkey away from its traditional Western orbit to place the
country in an Eastern axis.

But for Davutoglu, efforts to build closer ties with Turkeys Muslim
neighbors in the Middle East do not mean Turkey is giving up on its
decades-old drive to be an integral part of Western institutions, most
notably the European Union. He was once quoted as saying that Turkey
can be European in Europe and Eastern in the East because we are both.

The foreign minister, in fact, is convinced that Turkeys growing clout
in the Middle East will help its bid to become a member of the EU,
rather than complicating it as critics at home and abroad argue. The
EU, under a leadership with long-term vision, will see that a Turkey
with influence in the Middle East, the Caucasus and the Balkans is a
great asset in advancing the old continents interests in the areas of
security, energy and economy. His vision seems to have reached
receptive ears in the Obama administration, which has found in Turkey a
partner to promote US foreign policy goals in the Middle East,
Afghanistan and the Caucasus. Its growing influence brought Turkey an
elevated standing in international organizations such as the United
Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Under Davutoglu, Turkeys policy toward its Eastern neighbors seems to
have gone beyond the well-known zero problems with neighbors approach
and turned into maximum cooperation and regional integration -- similar
to what formed the basis of the EU in the post-World War II era. His
efforts to reinvigorate ties with the countrys Middle Eastern neighbors
that had remained dormant for decades amid mutual suspicions has
removed skepticism toward Turkey as a Western agent and has won Ankara
huge sympathy as a regional leader. Ankara is now a respected promoter
of peace in the eyes of Syrians, the Lebanese, Iraqis and even
Iranians.

When confronted by charges of a shift in axis, Turkish leaders assert
that Turkey is part of no axis other than its own. The
multi-dimensional foreign policy was reflected in the field of energy
as well: Turkey signed deals with both the EU and Russia to allow rival
pipelines to cross its territory, boosting its aspirations to become a
hub for regional energy routes.

Since the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) first came to
power in 2002, Davutoglu has clearly shown that he is after a
redefinition of Turkeys role in its region and around the world. His
so-far-successful term at the helm of the Foreign Ministry, a
combination of theory and effective implementation, indicates he is not
just a foreign minister, but a statesman who is most likely to have a
legacy throughout the years to come.

[11] Daily evaluates the steps Turkey took in 2009 in its foreign
policy with its Eastern neighbors

Citizens of Turkey who grew up in the final decades of the 20th
century, in particular during the 1970s and 80s, were indoctrinated
with the cliché that Turkey was surrounded by enemies on all sides,
while surrounded by sea on three sides.

The cliché had a mission in line with Cold War rhetoric; Turkeys
geographic uniqueness highlighted the geo-strategic significance of
this country and made its citizens feel proud of their country, while
the presence of enemies on all fronts helped maintain a mood of alarm
within the country. The so-called balance of power and weakness helped
the status quo endure in regard to both domestic and foreign affairs.

If 2008 can be called the year when Turkey actively implemented its
zero problems with neighbors policy, 2009 can be labeled the year
during which Turkey actively moved to have maximum cooperation with
certain neighbors -- namely Iran, Iraq and Syria. The dazzling speed of
the progress in relations with these countries, supported by concrete
steps of bilateral cooperation, has led to a confusion of minds as to
whether Turkey is turning its back on its decades-old Western alliance
and moving toward a new alliance in the East.

Most of those assumptions were really a result of confusion, yet some
of those comments appeared to be malevolent, since their arguments had
a tone of putting Ankara in its place in a blunt attempt to dictate to
Ankara that it continue playing a solely regional and so-called bridge
role between the East and the West.

In the meantime, Ankara has tirelessly stated that it has long
abandoned the limiting paradigms which defined its role according to
the Cold War mentality and that rather than changing its direction, it
has simply been expanding its relations.

Subtitle: Changing nature of fronts

Here are some of the facts concerning the course of affairs in Turkeys
relationship with some of its neighbors in the Middle East in the year
2009.

In mid-October, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Baghdad,
where Turkey and Iraq took a giant step forward to boost ties, signing
more than 40 agreements ranging from issues such as fighting Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK) terrorism to energy cooperation and water sharing.
Erdogan and his Iraqi counterpart, Nouri al-Maliki, presided over the
first joint cabinet meeting of the two governments under the High-Level
Strategic Cooperation Council.

On December 23, as he co-chaired with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
a top level meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council
between the two countries in Damascus, Erdogan vowed to build a model
partnership with Syria, while he also underlined that Turkey would not
give up on its determination to improve ties with neighboring countries
such as Syria just because this move is considered by some to be a
shift from the West to the East.

During the meeting, the two countries signed 51 cooperation agreements
in a wide range of areas including water, energy, health, culture,
security, trade, electricity, oil and natural gas.

Remarkably, on the very same day, al-Assad revealed that Turkey was
involved in efforts to resolve problems between Syria and Lebanon. He
said Turkey had a role in the recent rapprochement between Damascus and
Beirut and added that a few people know about this. He did not
elaborate.

On October 28, during a visit to Tehran, Erdogan defended Irans nuclear
program as peaceful, and Turkish officials announced a deal to explore
for natural gas in Irans South Pars basin, which has added to Western
concerns that Turkey might be forsaking its alliance with the West to
pursue a leadership role in its neighborhood.

One has to admit that of all of those relationships, the one between
Ankara and Tehran is less than rosy, with the latter constantly
delivering ambiguous responses to questions on Turkeys possible role in
the dispute surrounding this countrys controversial nuclear program.

Still, Turkey has not given up on its intense efforts to persuade Iran
to act more cooperatively with the West, while also urging the five
permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- the P5+1
-- to develop a modified approach toward Iran if they really want to
engage in a healthy dialogue.

Turkey joined the 15-nation UN Security Council as a non-permanent
member in January and will have the seat until the end of 2010. Ankaras
efforts are in a way dedicated to maintaining a moral stance in order
to be able to justify its decision, whether it is eventually yes or no,
when there is a vote at the UN Security Council on imposing sanctions
on Iran.

Subtitle: Mesopotamia and optimism

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was Erdogans chief foreign policy
adviser from 2002 until he was appointed to his current post in May and
is seen as the architect of Turkeys foreign policy, which is getting
rid of its Cold War chains.

During an August visit to Baghdad, the goal of which was to prepare for
the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council with
Iraq, Davutoglu, a professor of political science and international
relations, said: We want the Mesopotamian region to once again become
one of the most productive and prosperous regions in the world in all
fields. We offer limitless cooperation for turning our region once more
into the rising star of the world.

Davutoglus explanation of his own optimism, which is best seen in his
reference to the ancient civilization in the Middle East, is actually
quite clear. In remarks delivered following an official visit to Tehran
in the first half of September, Davutoglu said his policy understanding
was based on deliberate optimism.

Im an optimist. It is not possible to take action without being
optimistic. I believe in what I do until the end; otherwise, I cannot
persuade anybody, he said at the time.

Earlier this week, Erdogan, delivering a speech at a ceremony where he
was granted an award dedicated to the memory of the late President
Turgut Ozal for his contributions to global peace, reflected the same
optimism. Erdogan said Turkey has been eliminating fears that amount to
paranoia about being surrounded by enemies. Turkey is no longer a
country surrounded by the sea on three sides and by enemies on all
sides, Erdogan asserted.

Following are the summaries of reports and commentaries of selected
items from the Turkish press on 30 December 2009:

a) Domestic affairs:

Commenting on recent police operations against some members of the
Turkish Armed Forces in an article entitled "What is indeed happening?"
Hurriyet Daily News columnist Yusuf Kanli says that "what some are
defending as steps aimed at consolidation of the rule of law and as
moves fully compatible with the 'accountability' of everyone in
democracies, are being perceived by some others as part of a concerted
effort aimed at tarnishing the public image of the institutions that
resist surrendering ambitions of political Islam. He notes: "Now, if
the claims of the ruling party and its allegiant media are indeed
correct and there was in the military a crime gang that was planning to
assassinate Arinc, some other government members, or commanding
admirals of the Navy; if there are claims that arms and bombs
discovered here and there over the past year all belong to that crime
gang in the military; or if there was indeed a coup in the making,
there is obviously a very grave situation. But, if all these claims are
just planted products of an 'asymmetric psychological warfare' the
situation is even graver, is it not?"

In an article entitled "The TSK's [Turkish Armed Forces] withdrawal,"
Radikal columnist Akif Beki interprets a statement issued by the
General Staff which said that the search conducted in connection with
the investigation conformed to laws as a sign that the military is
withdrawing from politics. He comments: "Its admission was
unprecedented. The TSK confirmed its adherence to law and democracy by
its statement and stance."

In an article entitled "Anxiety caused by silence," Radikal columnist
Mehmet Ali Kislali speculates that the search conducted at the Regional
Mobilization Department may be intended to find evidence revealing an
alleged secret organization by using allegations of plot to assassinate
Arinc as a pretext. He comments: "Thus, a new adventure looms on the
horizon after another adventure called Ergenekon which has a legal
aspect peculiar to it without any indication about when it will end. It
seems that the other front is acting carefully in order to prevent the
AKP from taking advantage of this complicated political struggle by
pretending that it has been victimized as it did in the past."

In an article entitled "Handcuffed democracy," Cumhuriyet columnist
Hikmet Cetinkaya emphasizes that intelligence wars in Ankara should be
brought to an end and harmony should be ensured between different
establishments within the government. He says: "If there is an
organized group deep in the Government and some people have pinned
their hopes on a military coup, it would be an extremely wrong
attitude. If some other people are spreading allegations about coups
and assassinations in order to be elected in the general election
scheduled for 2011, it would be an equally dangerous plan."

In an article entitled "The military and domestic politics," Sabah
columnist Hasan Bulent Kahraman says that the military may no longer
play an influential role in domestic politics in Turkey if Turkey
assumes a more active role in her region with US backing. He adds: "It
is impossible for the military to increase its influence over domestic
politics at a time when the United States which supported almost all
military coups in the past is now clearly standing in the way of
similar attempts."

In an article entitled "Gul's decision to convene a summit is
sagacious," Milliyet columnist Fikret Bila says that a high-level
meeting to be chaired by President Abdullah Gul and attended by the
heads of the legislature, executive, and the judiciary as well as the
chief justices of the civil and military high courts on 5 January is
expected to eliminate distrust and misunderstandings between different
establishments within the government.

A "news analysis" entitled "Work load increases for mobilization units
prior to coups" asserts that because of a radical change that took
place in the Turkish military's concept and definition of "enemy"
during the term of office of former Chief of Staff Yasar Buyukanit,
even political parties or movements that rise to power in a democratic
election in Turkey could become "the target of unconventional warfare
activities."

b) Turkey's foreign policy:

Analyzing diplomatic moves made by the ruling Justice and Development
Party, AKP, in 2009, in his article entitled "It is more active and
different," Milliyet columnist Sami Kohen says that Turkey is making
efforts to strengthen political and economic ties with countries which
share common goals without neglecting her relations with the United
States and the EU. He comments: "In other words, Turkish diplomacy took
care to maintain its alliance with the West while attempting to add new
dimensions to its foreign relations. But, new moves and tendencies in
Turkey's foreign relations gave rise to doubts about a possible 'shift
of axis.' In fact, it is true that important changes took place in
foreign policy and an adjustment of axis was made in 2009. But, this is
a foreign policy which is more independent and active and, thus,
different than those pursued in previous years."

In an article entitled "Switzerland spoiled Turkey's EU dream,"
Hurriyet Daily News columnist Mehmet Ali Birand says that a recent
referendum which endorsed a ban on construction of minarets for mosques
has led to heated debates about whether Europe will be able to live
with Islam and reflected Europe's general opposition to Islam. He
comments: "If there is no progress in the negotiations between Turkey
and the EU, if an important part of topics are on hold, if other
members of the EU do not oppose Sarkozy and Merkel's constant
recommendation of a 'Privileged Partnership' instead of full
membership, the underlying reason is not Cyprus, it is the EU's view of
Turkey from a religious point of view. We might say the Swiss
referendum has spoiled Turkey's dream of the EU and revealed a
different reality."

In a commentary entitled "The nuclear menace looming over Turkey's
neighborhood", Mehmet Kalyoncu explains why Iran is "hardly likely to
pose a direct nuclear security threat to Turkey ..." He also asserts
that Iran's nuclear program "does threaten Turkey's diplomatic
influence across the Middle East," adding that "at the end of the day,
Turkey may have to consider acquiring its own nuclear weapons
capability as a Plan B in order to counterbalance the new nuclear
realities in its neighborhood."

c) Lack of freedom of the press:

In an article entitled "We are moving backward in freedom of the
press," Hurriyet columnist Sedat Ergin emphasizes that a growing number
of journalists are facing possible charges and trials due some articles
in the Turkish Penal Code and the Press Code which provide for prison
sentences and fines if a journalist is found guilty of revealing secret
facts about an ongoing investigation. Pointing out that both laws were
amended in 2005 as part of the Government's political reforms connected
with the process of accession to the EU, Ergin says: "There was no
provision to that effect in the Turkish Penal Code which was copied
from Italy's penal code under Mussolini and was in force when the AKP
came to power. Thus, journalists were not facing the threat of being
jailed like the sword of Damocles when they wrote a story about the
content of any investigation before 2005. This contradiction witnessed
during the process of accession to the EU is alarming in all respects."

In an article entitled "Reminding Tayyip Erdogan of Pinarhisar,"
Milliyet columnist Hasan Cemal points out that Star columnist Samil
Tayyar has been given a 20-month suspended prison sentence while Mehmet
Baransu, a Taraf reporter, facing serious charges on the grounds that
they have revealed secret facts about the Ergenekon case. Praising
Tayyar and Baransu for courageously revealing facts about the shady
organization and its alleged plot to overthrow the Government, Cemal
comments: "Some mistakes may be made because journalists are always in
a rush. But, it should be borne in mind that obstacles to democracy and
law cannot be removed without stirring up a hornet's nest and taking
certain risks in this country because what we are actually witnessing
is a struggle for democracy."